Aceh widows threaten to election boycott

Aceh widows threaten to election boycott

JAKARTA (JP): Widows who lost their husbands during a 10-year
military operation in Aceh said on Monday they would boycott
elections and support a referendum determining Aceh's status if
their various demands were not met.

Antara reported from the capital of Banda Aceh that around 42
widows grouped in the Aceh Forum of Widows of the Military
Operation met with the local council.

The group demanded the right to know the whereabouts of
abducted family members and the locations of graves containing
family members; the right to education for their children up to
the university level; compensation for lost wages from family
members who were abducted, tortured or killed; and compensation
for property which was either seized or burned during the
military operation.

The forum, set up in February and represented by chairwoman
Nurlaila during the meeting with the council, also demanded that
rights violators be tried immediately. They also rejected any new
military operations.

"If the demands are not seriously responded to, the forum will
reject the election on June 7 and support demands for a
referendum," Nurlaila said.

Governor Syamsuddin Mahmud suggested a referendum to determine
whether or not the Acehnese wanted to become a federal state,
which would give them more autonomy. Students have said that
total separation from Indonesia was the preferred option.

Meanwhile, Lilawangsa Military Commander Col. Johnny Wahab
told The Jakarta Post from the North Aceh capital of Lhokseumawe
that he was confident that military members were not involved in
the violence in Idi Cut, East Aceh, while a fact-finding team of
military police was still investigating it.

Six of the seven dead claimed by the military have been
identified following the incident of Feb. 3, while the Iskandar
Muda Legal Aid Office in Banda Aceh identified 12 last week and
said Sunday that a total of 21 had been killed. Six bodies were
said to have been found in the Arakundo river by residents and a
diving team.

A local correspondent said the team on Monday stopped the
search while the military and police, Johnny said, are still
scouring the river for victims of the incident in Meunasah Blang
Idi Cut, Idi Rayeuk. He denied reports that a number of people
were missing after the shootings early Wednesday.

On Wednesday, an unidentified group of men reportedly opened
fire after they dispersed thousands of people listening to a
sermon said to be advocating a Free Aceh in a mosque.

Meanwhile, Antara quoted Aceh Governor Syamsuddin as saying
Monday that the Idi Cut violence was the work of "atheists".

Police have identified four victims: Irwansyah bin Usman, 22,
Hasbi Saleh, 35, Irwan bin Matsyah, 24 and Jailani Muhammad, 24.
The agency reported Friday the identification of another two:
Karimuddin Ibrahim, 13, and Saiful Bahri, 20. (byg)